Author: ericjames.ochigbo

Bill

By EricJames Ochigbo

Abuja, June 10, 2024 (NAN) Some experts in the auctioneering industry has urged the House of Representatives to expedite actions on the passage of the Chartered Institute of Auctioneers of Nigeria (CIAN) bill.

In a statement jointly signed by the experts on Sunday in Abuja, they called on the House to step down the bill on Auctioneers Registration Council as it would be a duplication of already existing laws.

This is according to the Chairman of Certified Institute of Auctioneers (CIAN) Mr Hillary Nwaukor, the Registrar of CIAN, Mr Adeleke Hassan and the President of United Auction House, Dr Jogunola Onabanjo.

Nwaukor explained that the CIAN bill was initiated since 2013 during the 7th Assembly and had passed through Third Reading during the 8th and 9th Assemblies of both chambers at the National Assembly.

He revealed that the CIAN bill had been re-gazetted in November 2023 for consideration at the Committee of the Whole in the green chambers.

He, therefore, said that the introduction of Auctioneers Registration Council of Nigeria bill was not necessary.

He emphasised that the CIAN bill has adequately addressed the training and certification of auctioneers and enjoyed overwhelming public support from other sister organisations such as National Association of Auctioneers among others.

“We therefore observed with much curiosity as well the rationale behind the accelerated consideration being given to a bill that was introduced at the First Reading on, June, 5, and on June 6,  and was referred to the Committee of the Whole in the house.

“It is in contradiction to extant legislative practices and conventions because at no given time was the Auctioneers Registration Council of Nigeria bill passed through Third Reading in the previous assemblies.

“While we urge our esteemed legislators to ensure adherence to due process and legislative practice and conventions.

“We wish to observe that the new Auctioneers Registration Council bill (HB 1508) will lead to a double licensing arrangement which makes auctioneers to be licensed at both the federal and state levels.

“The CIAN bill is meant to promote professionalism, regulation and control of auctioneers body of skills and knowledge required for the profession,” he said.

Nwaukor said that the institute in its efforts to develop and deepen the practice of auctioneers in Nigeria already collaborated with state governments and higher institutions in the training and certification of auctioneers across the country.

He said that the institute was also aware that auction business in Nigeria is on the concurrent list of the Constitution.

He stressed that many states in the country already had laws on licensing of auctioneers hence the introduction of Auctioneers Registration Council bill will amount to duplication and constitutional conflict.

He, therefore, stated that the Auctioneers Registration Council bill if passed into law, will be killing the profession and stifling the development of the profession across the country. (NAN)

EOO/MAM/IAA

Edited by Modupe Adeloye/Isaac Aregbesola

Heritage

By EricJames Ochigbo 

Abuja, June 9, 2024 (NAN)The Abuja branch of the Okpe Union, a Delta based socio-cultural organisation, has called for concerted efforts to preserve Nigeria’s values and cultural heritage.

The President of the branch, Mr Wilson Awhensebe, made the call at the 2024 Okpe Day and 94th anniversary celebrations of the union in Abuja on Sunday.

“As a thriving socio-cultural organisation, we remain committed to the preservation of our rich cultural heritage, customs and traditions handed down to us by our founding fathers.

“We are, however, concerned about the erosion of cultural and moral values in today’s modern society, hence, we believe in promotion and preservation of our culture, ethics and values.

“As steps towards addressing the moral crisis and challenges in society. This is part of the reason we celebrate Okpe day,” he said.

He explained that the day was celebrated to showcase our rich cultural heritage and values which was deeply cherished and guard jealously.

Awhensebe commended Federal Government’s policy on teaching of indigenous languages in schools in every local government area in the country. 

He appealed to President Bola Tinubu to mandate the Ministry of Education to put modalities in place and to work with state governments to ensure speedy implementation of the policy.

According to him, this will go a long way to resuscitate learning and communication in local languages and prevent indigenous language from going into extinction.

Awhensebe also called on the Federal Government to prioritise reviving the Sapele, Warri and Koko ports in Delta.

He said reviving the ports would help to decongest the gridlock at the Apapa Port in Lagos State while boosting the economy of not just Delta, but the Niger Delta region and the nation at large.

He commended government’s ongoing efforts at rehabilitating portions of the Abuja-Lokoja-Auchi-Benin-Warri federal highways which had been in deplorable condition for many years. 

The branch president appealed to the Minister of Works, Mr Dave Umahi to ensure speedy execution of the contracts for the federal highways for the comfort of citizens plying the roads.

Awhensebe, equally tasked the Federal Ministry of Transportation to commerce work on the Itakpe-Abuja rail line which he said had the potential to boost socio-economic activities along the corridors of the Abuja-Itakpe-Warri area.

He further appealed to government at all levels to provide the enabling environment for citizens to thrive in their endeavours through the provision of basic amenities and infrastructures.

The Union’s Secretary Mr Mitaire Ikpen, while speaking with newsmen on the sideline of the event, said its essence was to showcase the rich cultural heritage of Okpe kingdom in Delta. 

Ikpen said the celebration was also to foster unity and patriotism among the people while preserving the rich cultural heritage of the kingdom.

“The essence of the day is to showcase and promote the rich cultural heritage of the Okpe people to ensure it is not eroded by modernity. 

“As we celebrate our day and culture, it fosters among us a sense of belonging, unity and commitment to patriotic ideals,” he said.  

Also, Chief Bright Igbako, the pioneer Secretary of National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) said members of Okpe kingdom were historically children of same father.

He said the 94th anniversary was an opportunity for the Okpe people to celebrate themselves and to throw more light on their activities and culture.

“Every opportunity we have to emphasise our identity, we seize it to let the world know we are playing our part in the affairs of Delta and Nigeria,” Igbako stressed. (NAN). 

EOO/EEM/IAA

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Edited by Emmanuel Mogbede/Isaac Aregbesola

Institute

By EricJames Ochigbo

Abuja, June 7, 2024 (NAN) The President of the Senate, Sen. Godswill Akpabio says Nigerians no longer require legislative trainings abroad given the standard of facilities and professionals at the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILDS).

Akpabio who said this when he visited the institute on Friday in Abuja, described the institute as “Nigeria’s Cambridge and Harvard Universities.”

“With this infrastructure, Nigerians no longer need to travel overseas for legislative training; this is our own Cambridge and Harvard,” Akpabio said.

Accompanied by the Senate Leader, Sen. Opeyemi Bamidele and Sen. Osita Ngwu, Sen. Asuquo Ekpenyong, and Sen. Abiru Adetokunbo, Akpabio commended the efforts of the management of the institution.

The Director-General of NILDS, Prof. Abubakar Sulaiman, unveiled NILDS’ latest publication titled ,”25 Years of Democracy and Development in Nigeria.”

The publication which features a foreword by Akpabio, chronicles Nigeria’s democratic journey and development since 1999.

In a similar development, the Speaker of the ECOWAS Parliament, Mr Maimounatou Ibrahima sought NILDS’ assistance in the area of capacity development of parliamentarians and their support staff.

Sulaiman assured the Institute’s readiness to provide its services to the ECOWAS Parliament, emphasising the institute’s commitment to advancing the overall well-being of the sub-region. (NAN)

EOO/MNA 

Edited by Maureen Atuonwu

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Reps, UN sign MoU on women inclusion in governance

MoU

By EricJames Ochigbo

Abuja, June 7, 2024 (NAN) The House of Representatives has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the United Nations Women on the need to increase the number of women in governance.

Speaker of the House, Rep. Tajudeen Abbas said on Thursday in Abuja that the partnership is to amplify the Gender and Equal Opportunities Bill and the Bill on Women’s Parliamentary Seats.

Represented by his Deputy Speaker, Rep. Benjamin Kalu, Abbas said that the advocacy partnership will service as a tool to lobby other stakeholders especially the constituents for women inclusivity.

“So the advocacy should not only be within the people’s parliament alone, it should go beyond here to the rural areas for the constituents to know why we want to go this way.

“Let them see the comparative analysis between our country and other countries, let them see what we are missing by not going this route all this while and let them see what we are going to gain if we go this route,” he said.

He stressed the need to build the capacity of women and sensitise women to support female aspirants.

He also said that women should be encouraged to bring their best in contributing to national development and not to compete with men or be seen to be antagonistic to men.

Earlier, the UN Women Country Representative to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Ms. Beatrice Eyong said that Nigerians are looking up to the National Assembly to address the problem of women underrepresentation.

She said that there are about 4 per cent of women elected to the National Assembly, and that there are only seven women serving in the 45 member federal cabinet.

She said that Nigeria is not doing well in the continental in terms of women representation in governance.

“This is the challenge we must all work together to surmount. You have demonstrated leadership, dedication and passion in this journey.

“UN Women is committed to walk this journey and to build a strong and sustainable partnership with your office and with the membership of the National Assembly,” she said.

Eyong said that the UN Women, with financial contribution from the Government of Canada and Norway had since 2019 supported strategic partnerships focusing on enhancing women’s political.

She said equal attention had also been given to economic empowerment, advancing the rights of women and girls, and strengthening women’s voice and leadership in development, peace, security and humanitarian response nexus among others. (NAN)(www,nannews.ng)

EOO/FEO/SH

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Edited by Francis Onyeukwu/Sadiya Hamza

Investigation

By EricJames Ochigbo

Abuja, June 6, 2024 (NAN) The House of Representatives has resolved to investigate all allocations of land in the Minister of the FCT from May 29, 2023 to Aug. 21, 2023.

The resolution was sequel to the adoption of a motion by Rep. Jonathan Gbefwi (APC-Nasarawa) on Thursday in Abuja.

Moving the motion, Gbefwi explained that by virtue of Section 297 of the Constitution, the ownership of all lands in the FCT, is vested in the Government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

He said that section 302 of the Constitution provides that the President may appoint a Minister who shall exercise powers and perform such functions as may be delegated to him.

“Aware that President Bola Tinubu was sworn on Monday, May 29 2023 and the current Minister of FCT, Mr Nyesom Wike assumed office as the FCT Minister on the August 21, 2023.

“Observed that in the period  May 29, 2023 to Aug. 21, 2023, several title documents on land in the FCT were issued to some real estate developers in a highly suspicious manner.

“I wonder if the Director of Lands or any official of Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) issued Right of Ownership (R of O) purportedly in the name of the FCT Minister at the period when the office of the Minister was vacant,” he said.

The lawmaker said that some of the lands affected were subject to litigations which were yet to be resolved.

According to him, some of the beneficiaries of these alleged fraudulent allocations are already using them to forcibly grab disputed land which is a recipe for conflicts.

He said that if the title document of any land is fraudulently issued or procured should not stand in the interest of the public:

The house recommended that all such lands which are subject to litigation or multiple allocations, should be identified and their allocation withdrawn by the Minister pending the resolution of the matter.

In his ruling, the Deputy Speaker, Rep. Benjamin Kalu, mandated the relevant committees to investigate and report back to the house within four weeks. (NAN)

EOO/SH

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edited by Sadiya Hamza

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